Vehicle-axle nut.



No. 703,016. Patented June 24, I902.

' T H TASH VEHICLE AXLE NUT.

(Application fil'ed June 1, 1901.)

(No Model.)

SEE

mm mrlllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. TASH, OF POTOMAC, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-AXLE NUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 703,016, dated June24, 1902.

Application filed \Tune 1, 1901. Serial No. 62.743. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. TASH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Potomac, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Vehicle- Axle Nut, of which'the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in nuts for vehicle-axles; andthe object is to provide a simple constructionof nut which will bepositively prevented from becoming accidentally displaced from the axleand which maybe conveniently positioned upon the axle and removedtherefrom.

With the above object in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction hereinafter fully described, particularlypointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicleaxle nutembodying my invention, the same being shown in position upon thespindle of the axle; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe same; Fig. 3, a similar view with the device for positioning andremoving the nut in position upon the nut. Fig. 4: is a detailtransverse section on the line 4 a of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of said device'for removing the nut.

Referring now moreparticularly to the accompanying drawings, Adesignates the threaded end of the axle spindle, formed about itscircumference with a plurality of longitudinally-extending groovesB,;-preferably four in number and disposed at equidistant points.

C designates the nut, which is closed at its outer end and is providedwith a centrally.-' screw threaded passage D to receive the threadedportion A of the spindle and with radially-disposed grooves or pockets Eopening into the central opening and disposed at equidistant pointsabout the same. The nut may be of any desired external contour, it herebeing illustrated as triangular with the corners thereof flattened. Thepockets or grooves, which are preferably three in number, are disposedat the corners of the triangular nut.

By providing the nut with a different number of grooves and springs thanthree grooves positively prevented.

in the axle some one of the springs will be in position to engage withone of the grooves by a very slight rotation of the nut, therebypermitting of a very fine adjustment of the nut. With four springs andonly three grooves it only requires one-twelfth of a rotation of the nutto bring some one of the springs into position to enter some one of thegrooves in the axle.

Intermediately pivoted in each pocket is a dog F, having its outer endbeveled slightly, as illustrated at G, to form a space between the endof the dog and the wall of the nut. Also positioned in each of saidpockets and secured therein by a pin passed through an attaching portionH is a spring I, bearing against the inner end of the dog and holdingsaid end normally downward and projecting into the central opening ofthe nut. The nut is formed on its rear face with flanges C, asillustrated.

The tool or device for positioning the device upon the spindle andremoving the same therefrom comprises a cap J of the same shape as thenut and having flanges to fit over the latter. Said cap has on its innerface wedge-shaped lugs K, designed to extend into the pockets in the nutand by engagement with the inclined ends of the dogs F depress said endsand raise the inner ends out of the central opening of the nut. Thus thenut may be readily positioned upon the threaded portion of the spindle,and as soon as the cap is removed the springs force the inner ends ofthe dogs downwardly and the dog registering with one of the grooves willbe forced therein and rotation of the nut is Therefore accidentaldisplacement of the same from the spindle is positively avoided. Afterthe nut has been screwed up nearly to the limit the wrench or tool ispartially withdrawn to permit the inner ends of the dogs to engage withthe spindle, so that as soon as any one of them reaches a groove it willautomatically enter it and lock the nut against further rotation ineither direction.

In practice I prefer to provide the cap with a handle J, by which thecap may be turned, thus avoiding the use of a wrench. The handle may bemade integral with the cap, as shown, or, if desired, may be made of aseparate piece and fastend to the cap in any suitable manner.

It will thus be readily understood that by providing the spindle with aseries of grooves I am enabled to obtain averyfine adjustment, as thenut need be turned but a slight distance, when one of the dogs will dropinto one of the grooves and securely lock the nut in place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, witha vehicle-nut provided with an interiorlongitudinal groove, of a spring pressed dog pivoted within said groove,the outer end of the dog being cut off to form a space between it andthe wall of the nut for the insertion of an operating tool or wrench.

2. The combination, with a vehicle-nutprovided with an interiorlongitudinal groove, of a dog pivoted intermediate its length therein,the forward end of the dog being cut off to form a space between it andthe Wall of the nut, for the insertion of an operating tool-or wrench,and a spring in engagement with the inner end of the dog to force ittoward the interior of the nut.

3. The combination, with a vehicle-nut provided with a series ofinterior longitudinal grooves, of a spring pressed dog in each groove,the inner end of which is adapted to engage with the axle and the outerend is cut ofi to form a space between the end of the dog and the wallof the nut, for the insertion of an operating tool or wrench.

at. The combination, with an axle provided with a series of longitudinalgrooves, of a nut provided with a series of interior longitudinalgrooves, the number of the grooves in the nut differing from those inthe axle, and a catch mounted in each groove in the nut in position toenter the groove in the axle.

5. The combination, with an axle provided with four longitudinalgrooves, of a triangular nut provided with three interior longitu dinalgrooves, one at each angle of the nut, and a catch mounted in eachgroove in the nut in position to enter some one of the grooves in theaxle when the nut is rotated.

6. The combination, with an axle provided with a longitudinally-groovedaxle, of a sub stantially cup-shaped nut,the bottom of which isperforated for the insertion of an operating-tool and the interior isprovided with an interior longitudinal groove to register with eachperforation, and a spring-pressed catch in each groove, the outer end ofwhich is cut off to form a space between it and the bottom of thegroove, for the insertion of an operating tool or wrench.

THOMAS H. TASH.

\Vitnesses:

H. S. COPELAND, L. C. Mnssnnn.

